As 2025 came to a close, the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl, a touchstone of Melbourne venues, turned into a wondrous dance retreat. Billed as New Year’s at the Bowl, it was one of many countdown gatherings for punters this year. What made this one special was its stunning location in the sprawling Kings Domain Gardens and the vast talent put up on stage. Inviting enduring beatmakers from decades past alongside innovative newcomers, both local and global, this celebration in the heart of Melbourne combined nostalgia with the future.

Split into three stages nestled among the greenery, the close distance from each made it easy to get a taste of every performer without missing much. Electronic dance music was primarily featured on the roster, transforming the Bowl from a gorgeous landmark into a spacious dancefloor. The genres were multifaceted enough to cover all niches for everyone, which included garage (X & Ivy), trip-hop (Tornado Wallace), tech house (Rosa Terenzi), bubbly dance-pop (INJI) and crass electro-pop (BIG WETT). I hardly stopped dancing to the back-to-back DJs at the small Sundial stage. As I rested to regain my stamina, performances from the indie rock two-piece Good Neighbours and soulful singer Joy Crookes provided a lovely soundtrack for a breather, while also showcasing the diversity of the lineup.

Most action took place at the famed Bowl itself from 8 pm onwards, once the sun lowered and plenty of concertgoers had trickled in by that point. Many stayed magnetised to the Sundial stage, almost packed like sardines, waiting for UK’s Ross from Friends to unleash his high-octane hypnotic techno. However, the energy at the massive amphitheatre kept brewing as the anticipation for its headliners grew stronger.

The Bowl offered a barrage of non-stop euphoric beats. Scottish DJ Sam Gellaitry set the Bowl ablaze, mixing alt-dance classics by Cassius, Duck Sauce and Gorillaz, creating a meaningful excursion through dance music’s many eras. Brisbane’s sibling-fronted dance group, Confidence Man, prolonged Gellaitry’s energy, introducing a disco flavour by theatrically working through a setlist of their dance-pop hits. Countdown time came ticking from 11 pm, with the legendary British DJ Carl Cox making the trek from his Frankston home to lay Ibiza-ready techno upon the CBD. He’s been in the game for 40 years, which you could tell from his delectable song selections and masterful mixing skills.

Cox led the countdown to a wave of cheers once the clock struck 12 am, the crowd illuminated by the bright fireworks in view—a fantastical spectacle to witness—but the encore was imminent. The godfathers of techno, Underworld, made up of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, set foot on stage right after Cox rang in the new year. Immediately, the opening notes of their ‘90s rave staple ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ emerged to rapturous roars from the crowd. This was the British duo’s first Melbourne gig in nearly a decade and a remarkable way to start 2026. Hyde and Smith are approaching 70, so their youthful energy in their powerhouse set was incredible, inspiring and life-affirming. If they can beam with that much life at their age, young people have no excuses! They tore through many of their classics, playing revved-up versions of ‘Dark Train’, ‘Cowgirl’ and ‘Push Upstairs’, then concluding with a sweltering and escalating closing suite of bangers with ‘Tin There’, ‘Moaner’ and ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ again at the end, of course. To borrow a line from their relentlessly uplifting anthem ‘Two Months Off’, they brought light in for the new year.

Underworld best encapsulated the reflective spirit of New Year’s at the Bowl: By covering all eras of their 40–year career in their set, they harnessed both the future and the past. 2025 may’ve been dominated by trepidation for many worldwide, but those who seek music as an escape know this year’s music spectacularly served that purpose—New Year’s was more evidence of that magic. Sidney Myer Music Bowl metamorphosed into a haven to dance our worries away, and I hope it returns next year for another round. If there’s any big takeaway I gathered, it’s that dancing is an antidote to the darkness.